Humans evolved and were able to drastically morph their environment and in effect the planet through various processes. The greatest of these processes being the burning of fossil fuels which has led to the increase in global temperature and the acidification of the ocean, among other things.

The beginning

Amphibian deaths of untold magnitude are occurring. This is alarming because the background extinction rate of amphibians is one species every thousand years that is one species usually goes extinct every thousand years, but it is thousands of species in a decade of late. This has been found due to the transport of the fungus Bd by human beings. Like the plagues and acts of god of yore, frogs have been instrumental in predicting the end times.

Signs - the amphibian apocalypse

In the 18th century, Molars and tusks are found together but they didn’t work with their most current theory of existential belief. An elephant species mastodon with molars was initially thought of as two animals but eventually came to be accepted as coming from a single animal. Fossils started being discovered everywhere. Animals still believe to be killed off but their point of origin is not debated.Charles Darwin discovered the origin of species which was evolution. But still a species dying out was thought off as gradual.

History of extinction - part 1

But the mass level extinction was thrown open by the discovery of the asteroid impact crater at gola del bottaccione. A similar extinction even in terms of ammonites due to deoxidization of ocean was also discovered. The impact of these extinctions can be seen in the fossil and archaeological evidence. And eventually we discovered that such mass extinctions had happened five times prior.

History of extinction - part 2

Coming to the modern day, it has been concluded that similar evidence is mounting on the extinction of a lots of species in the recent years. The time zone we are living is dubbed as Anthropocene (The age of man).  And thus the sixth extinction is well underway.

The sixth extinction

Ocean acidification is taking place as a result of the large CO2 content in the atmosphere. Due to the absorption of CO2, the PH value of the oceans are changing. Organisms that can’t survive the PH value are dying out.

The oceans

The organisms that make homes in shells are affected because the PH doesn’t allow for the formation of their shells. The tropics are diversity rich which is attributed to the coral reefs interaction with marine animals. Corals have a symbiotic relationship where another organism that makes their food, the acidic ocean makes the food produced by the organism toxic, so corals have to kick out these organisms, which leads to corals losing it color and food source, this is known as coral bleaching. This leads to death of the ecosystem. It is predicted the great barrier reef will be dead by 2050.

Extinction in the oceans - some examples

Migration can help species to survive the climatic shifts but not all species migrate, and their rates of migration vastly differ. An added problem is the formation of isolated forest pockets divided by human settlements which further hamper the migration of the mobile species, further ensuring their demise by preventing migration.

Why don't they move?

Alien species have throughout the world caused havoc by killing local species. The reason being the alien species has no local predators to check its growth. The advent of human transport networks has created a new Pangea (supercontinent) of sorts where all the land masses are connected by human transportation. This enables introduction of alien species to new biomes, even the remotest islands. This means that a set of species which are adapted to live in a global scale will remain and all local variation will be eliminated down the line.

Aliens on the supercontinent

The world was home to a group of mega fauna or big mammals like sabretooth tigers, etc. but they all went extinct. Many explanations have been put forward but the most probable is their killing off by human beings.Similar to the mega fauna, human beings could be held responsible for the death of other human species like the Neanderthals. The chief difference being the ability to represent the world in symbols and the ability to take alter our behavior against our natural instincts, gave us an edge.

We started way before we became civilized

There are three possibilities of the future according to humanity – One, we end up upsetting the natural balance of the earth and end up going extinct ourselves or two, we would escape this fate through innovation and technology. Here we can't imagine slowing down.Yet it still remains up to us to imagine a third, where we actively work to protect other species and ensure life on earth remains in balance. Knowing the odds this third option is the most logically sound. But it remains to be seen what we will choose? Or will we continue to not decide and an option will be chosen for us by default.

How this ends.

The world is dying and we are responsible. We need to know what and why that's happening.

ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR A major book about the future of the world, blending intellectual and natural history and field reporting into a powerful account of the mass extinction unfolding before our eyes Over the last half a billion years, there have been five mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. This time around, the cataclysm is us. In The Sixth Extinction, two-time winner of the National Magazine Award and New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert draws on the work of scores of researchers in half a dozen disciplines, accompanying many of them into the field: geologists who study deep ocean cores, botanists who follow the tree line as it climbs up the Andes, marine biologists who dive off the Great Barrier Reef. She introduces us to a dozen species, some already gone, others facing extinction, including the Panamian golden frog, staghorn coral, the great auk, and the Sumatran rhino. Through these stories, Kolbert provides a moving account of the disappearances occurring all around us and traces the evolution of extinction as concept, from its first articulation by Georges Cuvier in revolutionary Paris up through the present day. The sixth extinction is likely to be mankind's most lasting legacy; as Kolbert observes, it compels us to rethink the fundamental question of what it means to be human.

books

Books

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

The Sixth Extinction

Man can survive any how as long as his why is strong enough

At the heart of the book

No matter the situation, we have the ability to choose how we react, we always have the choice to choose our attitude. As long as you hold onto this, no matter what happens, we would have lived well.

You never lose the ability to choose

It is not the circumstances but an inner decision that leads to man’s behavior. We may blame our circumstances but the truth is our inner constitution was not strong enough. You can always control what you do in your limited capacity.

You decide to act

Men went to both extremes in the concentration camps, some became monsters in order to survive. While there were others who would go from hut to hut consoling people, giving away their last piece of bread. So what was the difference between them, the difference was their inner constitution. Similarly, in any situation be the man who tries to rise beyond and set his wings towards heaven.

Of angels and demons

Life does not care about our little trifles with meaning. Life questions each man and it is unto him to answers life’s question. And this is man’s primary meaning.

life's primary meaning

Meaning in life according to Frankl ; can be of three kinds. The first being a higher purpose or calling, something you feel you have been put on this earth to achieve. The second is love, love for family, friends, and especially that special someone. The last is suffering. Suffering is an unavoidable part of human existence and it is upto man to find meaning in his own suffering.

The three sources of meaning

Life is like a movie; it’s ultimate meaning can only be seen in its conclusion. But each still in the movie has an inherent meaning of its own. It is up to us to make each frame and still meaningful to the best of our ability.

The meaning is in the moment

Decent people are a minority. But a goal in life should be to be a part of this minority and strive hard to be decent.

The rarity of good people

It is upto us even in the face of great adversity to act in accordance with who we are. The meaning of life is only attained through right action

How to attain meaning

How to decide whether you want to pursue something. Imagine you are on your deathbed and look back on events as if you did not pursue this goal.

How to gauge if something is meaningful

Another kind of man existence a man who has lost hope or meaning in his suffering. In the concentration camp there were these men who would give up and just lay down to die. No amount of threats or pleasantries could make them get up again. For example, a large number of people died right after Christmas, they had thought they would be rescued by this time and when this did not happen, they lost hope and gave up. Frankl noted that these men would start to smoke cigarettes they had hidden away, turning to primitive drive for pleasure.

A man without meaning

It is up to each individual to define meaning for themselves. It is meaning that makes us rise above our animal instincts and reach for the divine within and outside ourselves. To make us virtuous and act in accordance with our higher ideals than falling to base pleasures. To make us fulfilled and happy. To become who were truly meant to be.

Conclusion

This describes what in essence makes human life worth living.

A prominent Viennese psychiatrist before the war, Viktor Frankl was uniquely able to observe the way that he and other inmates coped with the experience of being in Auschwitz. He noticed that it was the men who comforted others and who gave away their last piece of bread who survived the longest - and who offered proof that everything can be taken away from us except the ability to choose our attitude in any given set of circumstances. The sort of person the prisoner became was the result of an inner decision and not of camp influences alone. Only those who allowed their inner hold on their moral and spiritual selves to subside eventually fell victim to the camp's degenerating influence - while those who made a victory of those experiences turned them into an inner triumph. Frankl came to believe that man's deepest desire is to search for meaning and purpose. This outstanding work offers us all a way to transcend suffering and find significance in the art of living.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

philosophy

Philosophy

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

Man's Search For Meaning

We all live our lives with some accepted notions on how to act, behave and think. We believe in certain things as being possible based on the rules of how (we believe) the world works. But in reality, a lot of these accepted rules are only our assumptions. We don’t see the world as it is but on the basis of our biases. Our perspective seriously restricts our options. In order to free ourselves from these self-imposed crutches, we need to be aware of them.

It’s all invented

In order to be aware, we must ask ourselves at every point;“What assumption am I making, that I’m not aware I’m making, that gives me what I see?”The idea is to identify your wrong assumptions and act on accurate ones. It’s about actually seeing the world for the way it is.  Let’s begin by acknowledging some common assumptions;

The Question

The greatest of our assumptions is that we are in some way all important. Everything and everyone revolves around us. It’s best not to take yourself so seriously. No one else does. When in relation with yourself, give yourself your due. But when in relationship with external things, give precedence to causal relationships.

The chosen one

We measure ourselves as opposed to something. The truth is we are ends in ourselves and that comparison with anything is not worthwhile or warranted. The truth is comparison is only possible among things that are in essence the same and in reality truly nothing is inherently the same. It’s best to live your life outside the limited confines of comparison. And if you truly want to compare yourself to someone, compare yourself to who you were yesterday.

The world of measurement

We all have biases about people based on our first impressions, their appearance, etc. Similarly we tend to account any negative action as arising from a negative character. The idea is not to look at the perceived negatives even in a bad situation and give people the benefit of the doubt. To think that people are inherently good and want to do what’s right. This enables us to see the other person in a positive light and in most cases no one is inherently evil; you will be amazed at the outcomes of many a interaction with this slight shift in perspective.

Give everyone an A

We all perceive our position in a perceived hierarchy as a measure of our ability to make an impact. We must understand it isn’t the chair that gives power; but the ability to take action. And that ability exists, no matter where we find ourselves.

Leading from any chair

The idea is that in doing anything we in turn gain something for ourselves or lose something. But in reality the world does not have such a black and white view of things. At most times the greatest thing you can do is to do things, you have an ability to do without thinking of the end result.

Gain and loss

To really drive the point home, let’s take the example of an argument with a friend. You could take it as a conflict in which one of you has to win or lose, in such a scenario you would focus on finding the best arguments and actions to defeat your perceived opponent and beat him into submission. But in this we lose sight of what’s really important, that being friendship. But in turn if you shift your focus to that of valuing your friendship over everything else, you would be able to have a discussion with your friend in such a way; you both walk away from this situation even better friends.

Gain and loss - Real world example

The idea is to break through your assumptions and see reality for what it is really without bias or emotion. Then it is accepting it for what it is. It is taking a bad event and taking responsibility for your part in it and letting go of everything else. It is in one hand, to identify non-negotiable absolutes, accept them and work your way up from there. But in reality, there are very few absolutes.

Seeing reality

A simple way to practice it’s all invented is to ask yourself this question:"What assumption am I making,That I’m not aware I’m making,That gives me what I see?"And when you have an answer to that question, ask yourself this one:"What might I now invent,That I haven’t yet invented,That would give me other choices?"And then you can invent spaces, narratives and beliefs so that instead of hindering you; enables you to reach for your goals.

Redefining reality

For example the idea of giving everyone an A is an invented story which takes the place of the common narrative the world is out to get you and people are inherently bad. In this framework, you treat people kindly which in most cases would in turn have them reciprocate. Nothing about the situation changes but your actions and thoughts change due to your viewpoint.

Redefining reality - An example

Similarly in almost every case, when you find yourself in a box while trying to do something. You will be amazed to find the box mostly imaginary. Once you notice it, the box disappears. This leaves you free to achieve your goal. But in a similar way, if you find it hard to reach a height; we may imagine a box to stand on to extend our reach.

The world is a certain way because we have been trained to see it a certain way. This book tells you there is a choice and we can always see things differently. And that idea in itself is revolutionary.

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER Discover the twelve breakthrough practices for bringing creativity and a sense of possibility into all of your endeavors in this bestselling guide from the author of Pathways to Possibility Presenting twelve breakthrough practices for bringing creativity into all human endeavors, The Art of Possibility is the dynamic product of an extraordinary partnership. The Art of Possibility combines Benjamin Zander's experience as conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and his talent as a teacher and communicator with psychotherapist Rosamund Stone Zander's genius for designing innovative paradigms for personal and professional fulfillment. The authors' harmoniously interwoven perspectives provide a deep sense of the powerful role that the notion of possibility can play in every aspect of life. Through uplifting stories, parables, and personal anecdotes, the Zanders invite us to become passionate communicators, leaders, and performers whose lives radiate possibility into the world.

The Art of Possibility

Men find it hard to find and maintain friendship as they get older. They are usually advised to get together with other guys or call them and have a chat. And they are told that is the way to maintain strong friendships. But this strategy doesn't seem to work.

How to make friends as a man

Women build relationships, face to face. That is through conversation or talking.

Why it‘s easier for women

For men, friendships are build shoulder to shoulder.They do that by engaging in activities together like sports, etc.

How men build friendships

The secret to making friends for men is to arrange engaging activities with other guys you like, over the traditional coffee dates or meeting up for a chat format.Getting together with other guys alone is not enough but what you do together matters most.

What‘s the secret

It is crucial that you make these activities a priority and take the responsibility of arranging these get-togethers.

Responsibility is key

Several years ago, there was a tweet which said that of Jesus' many miracles, perhaps his greatest, was having 12 close friends in his 30s.

The Sixth Extinction

Man's Search For Meaning

The Art of Possibility

Podcast #702: One Man's Impossible Quest — To Make Friends in Adulthood

Vysakh M